Flexible curtain for sectional desks



Sept. 11, 1951 c. F. WOLTERS ETAL FLEXIBLE CURTAIN FOR SECTIONAL DESKS .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 INVENTORS CARL F. WOL TERS G EWATK/N6 v 1 .llillllllllll lllllllllltllllrlll .III lildll Sept. 11, 1951 C. F. WOLTERS ET AL FLEXIBLE CURTAIN FOR SECTIONAL DESKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 INVENTORS CARL E WOLTERS Sept. 11, 1951 c. F. WOLTERS ET AL FLEXIBLE CURTAIN FOR SECTIONAL DESKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 c n TL 0 ww 5 L R m TT RNEYS 3* 1951 c. F. WOLTERS ET AL 2,567,536

FLEXIBLE CURTAIN FOR SECTIONAL DESK-S Filed Janfv, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS cA L E WOL TERS E0 GE ATKINS Sept. 11, 1951 C. F. WOLTERS ET AL FLEXIBLE CURTAIN FOR SECTIONAL DESKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 INVENTORS CARL E WOL TERS 0 E WA TK/NS ATT NEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE CURTAIN FOR SECTIONAL DESKS Carl F. Wolters, New Canaan, Conn., and George E. Watkins, Kenmore, N. Y., assignors to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January '7, 1948, Serial No. 930

7 Claims.

This invention relates to equipment for hous closure for the upper section.

The invention also provides an auxiliary tray cabinet adapted to form a plurality of tray compartments with provision for mechanism to support a plurality of trays therein for Withdrawal or removal and having a flexible curtain to close the tray compartments, the entire tray cab-. inet assembly being adapted to be removably secured on the lower sections of a sectionally arranged desk.

The invention provides an articular curtain made up of a plurality of reeds to provide a closure for the open front and top sections of the lower desk, the said curtain being equipped with a lock, pulls, and equalizing mechanism to prevent sagging or distortion of the assembled reeds of the curtain, and which is capable of operating independently or in conjunction with an upper curtain.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sectional desk embodying the invention, the removable tray section being shown attached to the lower sec-' tion and both upper and lower curtains shown closed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse cross-section through the center portion of the assembled sectional desk with the double curtain being shown closed to provide closure for both sections of the desk.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 2, the double curtains being shown open to permit access to both sections'of the desk.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section, partly in elevation,

taken substantially on lines 44 of Fig. 3, showing the'latch and stop for the top curtain in elevation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the upper curtain latch and stop at the moment the pick-up carried by the lower curtain engages the upper curtain for simultaneous closure of both curtains.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail cross-section showing juncture of the upper and lower curtains when both curtains are closed to form closures for the respective sections, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-section through portions of sections of the desk looking downward, a portion of the shelf of the upper section being broken away to show the support members for the upper section and the relation between the two sections.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the left hand side of both sections of the desk with the curtains in open position and portions of the desk and one tray broken away and shown in cross-section to illustrate details of construction.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section through the curtain guides, the equalizer rod and associated mechanism being shown in elevation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective detail of the curtain guides, curtains, and equalizer rod mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a section through one of the curtain reeds, illustrating the method of assembling adjacent reeds, the cable and cable clip being shown in elevation.

The present invention provides an improvement over the cabinet and housing for index card file trays disclosed in eopending application, Serial No. 740,255 filed April 8,1947, now abandoned.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral [5 designates spaced apart sides of the lower tray section or desk portion secured together by a back [6 secured to and extending between the rear edges of sides I5. The sides are additionally spaced apart by a plurality of frame members I! carrying a shelf i8 extending from the front edges of sides IE to back l6. supplemental back member [9 is mounted "on shelf is adjacent the rear edge thereofin spaced parallel relation to back IE to provide space for receiving a portionof a pair of guideways 20 for flexible curtain 2 l. Guideways 20 are formed of sheet metal having a channel shape in crosssection. Said guideways 20 extend upward adjacent back I6 and then extend along the marginal portions of sides l5 at the top and front portions of the lower tray section so the cover may be moved between the closed and open positions, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Sides l5 have the top and front edges formed with laterally extending flanges 22 terminating in inturned lips engaging the outer edges of guideways 2B. The inner edges of guideways 20 along the top marginal portions of sides |5 have flanged portions forming channels 23. Each channel 23 has a plurality of upstanding notched teeth 24 formed on its inner free margin to form parallel longitudinal racks 25, as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, fi and 8.

The portionofithe desk above shelf I8 provides a tray cabinet. The tray cabinet is sub-divided into a plurality of compartments by upright partitions 26 extending from the front to the rear of shelf l8 in spaced apart 'parallel'relation. A tray 21 is mounted for movement -between=each adjacent pair of partitions. :Each partition :25 is formed with an outward'lateraloextension atits lower edge secured to the shelf |8 to provide tracks 28. Angle track members 29 .are mounted in spaced parallel relation above tracks 28and terminate rearwardly of the forward edges of partitions 26, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Angle wreck imembers r29 cooperate with track members :28 :forreceivingrollers =30 mounted on each tray 2-1, as shown -in v:Fig-ure 18, when trays 2 1 are mounted in :their mompartments .in the cabinet. Tracks 28 =and 2-9 and rollers -.30-; provide: an .antifriction :support :so that trays .2! -will have free rollingrengagement into-and out of their respective-compartments in the a cabinet between partitions 26;

Trays 21 are constructed in :anyesuitable man- In'er-well knowni-in:the.-art,.such as those shown in tlre aforementionedapplication, and are pref erably traysof the character having end walls .rada'pted 'to be tiltednoutwardly from a vertical :position intoi=an=inclined position :inuse so that the card-supporting panels, dividers and the like :mounted'linwthetray may be :swung back and rforth F'for-convenient reference to the records mounted and indexediinthetray. Bumpers .3I secured on icross members'3.2 [are-positioned at ethemeanofcea'ch compartment:fonthapurpose of returning the end walls of the trays .21.from .the tilted ton vertical-position byiimpingement there- :against 'when the \trays are rrolled inwardly into theirrespecfivecompartments. The cross-mem- I bers 32 function additionally as bracesforsupzplemental back.member. Each trayJ'I. is provided with suitable stop members in .the manner described in i'copending =appl-ication No. :740 .255,

"the stop members=beingadapted to cooperate with latch member 33 housed in casings r34 -mounted:one= on each side of partitions -2.6 -.near "the upper edge thereof, -.as shown in Figure 7 8. The'front en'dsof casings 34 :are-open and .the forward ends of latches-33 extend beyondcasings -84 and the forward edges of .partitions -26, :as

' rshownzin: Figures :2.-and :3. The forwardendsof togethenby a back 31 extending .betweenthe rear edges of sides=36. :Aflanged top or.cover member 38 isenga-gednnstheiupperedges of sides =36.and

Y back e31. screws '-4 are zused to secure cover member=3a to sides 3B :and back -31. Ashelf mernberfl-B extends in adjacent spacedmelation between the sides from-the front to the-back .31

- PA plurality ofspaced transverse support channels '35 are mounted under shelf member .39. .Shelf member 39 is formed with dependent flanges 40 4 2 about the sides and back to form an attaching portion on the auxiliary tray cabinet for engagement with and attachment to the desk portion by screws 4|. A guideway 42 is carried on the marginal portion of the front and along the sides of the auxiliary tray cabinet above guideway 20, for slidably mounting therein a second flexible curtain 43 so that the said curtain may be moved between the closed and open positions shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The portion of the cabinet above the shelf 39 is .dividedinto aplurality of compartments by .upright,partitions 44 extending from the front to the .rear .of said cabinet in spaced parallel relation. r'Anlangle track member 45 including an upturned channel 46 is secured along the opposite sides "of -each compartment adjacent the shelf 739,-as shown in Figure 8, to provide tracks to receive rollers 41 mounted on opposite sides .of each tray 48 mounted one in-each compartment. Members 45-.and46 cooperate with rollers '41 1to1provide an anti-friction support so that trays '48 have free rolling engagement in and out of the respectivecompartments between par- .titions '44. Trays may-be constructed in any suitable manner, and each tray is also provided with suitable extension slides 51 on opposite sides thereof 'to allow the said tray to be withdrawn outwardly in front of the auxiliary cabinet. Each compartment is provided with a bumper 45 carried on a cross-bracel50,"the saidbumper 49 'and'cross-brace150 havingthe same purpose and "func'tion'in the auxiliary tray 'as'bumper 3| and cross-brace 32 of the desk portion.

The provision of a double flexible curtain not only provides for convenient closing of the open ,portions of the respective desk portion and auxiliary tray cabinet, but'is so.constructed and arranged that thetop. curtain will be closed 'coin Lcident with.the closing of the'lower curtain,and :access'may not be'had to the auxiliary tray while 'thelower curtain is closed.

.Flexible curtains 2| .and 43, respectively, are 'each'made up of'a plurality of reeds 5|. Each reed 5! is formed from astrip ofimetal of 'su'f- 'flcient'length tospanthe open topand fronttof Ithe desk portion.an'd/or auxiliary tray between end walls '|5;and 36 respectively and have'the ends rest for slidable movement in the guide- .ways. :Each stripof metal'is benta'djacenteach -longitudinal edge to form parallel dependent flanges 52, each flange 52 being further bent to form a tubular portion at the'terminus'thereof. Thetubular terminus of one'o'f the flanges 52 on each strip or reed 5| is bent upon' itself to form a closed tubular portion 53 while'the other'flange '52 of'each'reed 5| is bent'to forma tube 54' having a longitudinall extending open space 'adjacent flange 52 and'therefore'being of relatively greater diameter than the tubes 53 so as to receive the tubular portion 53 of the next adjacent reed 5| whenthe reedsareassembled to form a .flexible curtain and to allow'proper flexure of the assembled curtain. The-assembled reeds are further secured together by means of a pair of flexible cables 55 which pass lengthwise of the assembledcurtain through a plurality of registering openings formed in tubular portions 53 and 54 at the opposite ends of each reed 5|. Clips 58 .are crimpedon the end of each cable 55 to secure the cable in. assembled relationas clearly shown in Figures 5, 6, and 11.

Thelhindmost. reed ll of lower curtain 2| supports intermediate'itsen'ds a pair of spaced transverse upstanding flngers 58 adapted-to engage a flange of the channel shaped tail bar mounted on hindmost reed 12 of upper curtain 43 when lower curtain 2| is pulled outwardly and downwardly to move the upper curtain from the open position shown in Figure 3 to the closed position shown in Figure 2 by means of suitable pulls '59,

Fig. 1. In this manner, upper curtain 43 is moved along its guideways 42 to the closed position shown in Figure 2, to extend in front of the auxiliary tray cabinet to fully close it. Spring pressed latch members 60 assure contact between finger 58 and tail bar H! in the event that the end of curtain 43 is positioned forwardly of stop members 6|, carried by support channel 35. Latch members 60 are formed of sheet metal strips having a hinge barrel formed along one side. Hinge pins I3 each have the central portion engaged in the hinge barrel on a latch member 60. Opposite ends of each hinge pin 13 extend through a pair of hinge barrel carried by hinge plates 14. A spring for each latch member 60 has a pair of loop portions engaged about hinge pin 13 between the hinge barrel on the latch member and the hinge barrels on hinge plate 14. Springs 15 each have a pair of arms engaging latch member 60, at opposite ends, while the unwound central portion of the spring forms another arm to engage hinge plate I4 for normally holding latch members 60 in laterally and downwardly projecting relation from the rear edge of tail bar 10.

The rear flange of tail bar 10 is recessed in alignment with latch members 60 to provide a space wide enough to allow passage of fingers 58. Latch members 60 are wider than the recesses in tail bar in for limiting hinging movement thereof by operation of springs 15, Fig. 4.

When lower curtain 2| is moved from a closed position toward its open position, as shown in Figure 3, upper curtain 43 is also carried along partly by lower curtain 2| by engagement of fingers 58 with the inner or forwardly disposed faces of latch members 60 and in part by its own weight. Stop members 6| limit the opening movement of upper curtain 43. When curtain 43 has engaged stop members 6|, fingers 58 will have their ends disengage the lower ends of latch members 60 through movement in the portions of the guideways at the rear of the cabinet curving downwardly.

The lower cover 2| is moved from open to closed position by manually engaging pulls 59 and sliding the cover forwardly in its guideways. As fingers 5-8 on the hindmost reed move upwardly at the rear portion of the cabinet, they will move into tail bar 10 to engage the front flange thereof when curtain 43 is in the rearmost position with bar H1 engaging stop 6 In the event curtain 43 is positioned with tail bar 10 forwardly spaced from stop 5 I, fingers 58 will engage the rear faces of latch members 60. Latch members 60 will then move on the hinge pins against the tension of springs 15 until fingers 58 move past members 60 and engage the front flange on tail bar 10 and move curtain 43 forwardly with the lower cover 2|. If desired, a lock 62 may be mounted on lower cover 2| to latch the cover to shelf Hi, this preventing unauthorized access to either the desk portion or the auxiliary tray cabinet.

To insure rigidity of the lower curtain 2|, stabilizer mechanism is carried on one of the reeds 55 intermediate the length of said curtain, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10. Said mechanism includes a transverse reinforcing member 63 welded to said reed and having welded dependent connectors 64 at each end adapted to support a pair of bearings 65 for a rotatable transverse pinion shaft 66. Gears 6'! adapted to mesh with rack 25 are mounted oneach end of shaft 66, and lateral displacement of gears 6! and rack 25 is avoided by means of washers 68 on shaft 66 positioned outside gears 61 and held in place by nuts 69, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The stabilizer mechanism gear is permanently engaged in rack 25 and provides uniform movement of the opposite edges of the curtain 2| while the said curtain slides through the guideways 20 during closing and opening operation of said curtain; This also secures smooth sliding operation of upper curtain 43.

The invention claimed is:

1. In oflic equipment comprising a lower section including spaced apart parallel sides, a back joining said sides and a shelf mounted in horizontal relation extending between said sides and back, an upper section carried by said lower section and including spaced apart parallel sides and a back connecting said sides, said sides of said upper section being aligned with and form-' ing continuations of the sides of the lower section, a second shelf mounted in horizontal relation extending between said sides and back of said upper section, and a horizontal cap member extending between said sides and back spaced above said second shelf, the respective sides, backs, and shelves defining separate filing cabinets, a flexible curtain formed of a plurality of interconnected reeds mounted for movement on the upper and front margins of the'sides of said lower section for closing the compartment therein, a second, similarly constructed curtain mounted for movement about the front margin of the sides of said upper section for closing the cabinet formed therein, pick-up means comprising a finger, carried by one of said flexible curtains and extending outwardly from the face thereof, and means comprising a receptacle carried by'the other of said flexible curtains adapted to receive said finger, said finger being normally engaged in said receptacle during the full opening and closing movement of one of said flexible curtains but being disengaged therefrom during a portion of the movement of the other of said curtains.

2. In office equipment, the combination of a lower section including a cabinet having spaced apart parallel sides, a back joining said sides, a shelf mounted in horizontal relation extending between said sides and back, a supplemental back member mounted on the rear margin of said shelf in spaced relation to said back and extending between said sides, upright partitions mounted on said shelf in parallel relation to form a plurality of tray compartments, a flexible curtain having side margins mounted in guidewayscarried on the top and side margins of said sides and extending between said back and said supplemental back member for movement between an open position in back of said cabinet and a closed position extending over the top and front portion of said lower section with the front edge engaging the front edge of said shelf, an upper section of relatively less depth carried by said lower section, including a second cabinet-havin spaced apart parallel sides, a back joining said sides, the said sides and back being in Vertical alignment with the sides and back of the lower section, a second shelf mounted in horizontal relation between said sides, upright partitions mounted on said second shelf in parallel relation to form a plurality of tray compartments, a horizontal cap extending between said sides andback sahoyessaidpcnmpartme ,t s,.=1and:a==sec0nd flexible c-mlrtainrhayih s .sidmmar ins: mounted guideaways; carried below-said second shelf. and adi ccent a,.po,rtion; of? the guidewa s for; the afore- "-.m n i ed:lowerwurtain and on the front marginof the upperi-section for-movementbetween :amopen pqsition 'wherein the said secondcurtain skies in a horizontal'planebelow saidupper-section eand;a=;jc losed position extending over. the front nportions of saidupper section witht-he front edge zencasin z the trout: edge of said cap, ick-up smeansm m i ingaa u i ht fin r arried y -5aid first-mentioned.flexible curtainadjacent an end thereof, engaging means carried by said second flexible curtainarrangedandiadapted to lie in; the path .Qf, :Sflid: :finger ..during-- said closing :mo emen 1 0 ll i Said n rl said second cur- ;Jain beingresponsive to theengagement of said glastementioned means with said, finger-rormovegment; through itsgguideways' between its respecntive QPQH-andclosed. positions coincident with tgthe movementof, saidfirst: curtain from an open s. --closed position, and spring urged latch gmeans carried: by, said lower curtain adapted to pposit ve ysengagesaid pick-up means andeng gging means during saidclosingmovement, said ,i-jiexible curtain .beingconstructed of-a plurality {of dongitudinal reeds, thesaid reedsbeing formed =with,;dependent;pontions and arranged side by side with their-respective longitudinal axes in marallel relation for theinterconnection of .the dependent portions of contiguous reeds for lim- .;ited rotary ;movement, and continuous flexible .cables passedithrough registering openings in uthesaid, interconnected dependent portions adjacent the; opposite ends 10f each reed and said :cables .having anchoringmeans. secured ,on their .--respective ends-,closely.-adjacent the end reeds. of mach-curtain.

.13, The; structure of 7. claim .2, in-- which;.mechais providedfor-equalizing the movement of the opposite side margins of thesaidlower cur- --atain, during; its-movement to and from its respec- 1 tive open and closed=positions.comprising in- -=wardly disposed racks formed on the horizontal :portionsof theguideways for said curtain mounted on said side margins within-said cabinet, a transversely disposed shaft arranged to span-said rcabinet,,-=me ans including bearings, dependently :mounting said: shaftfor; rotation carried .by one cof-sai djreeds intermediatev the length ofsaid our- ;;a 'pair :of ;gears, one gear .being mounted can eachl end, of said shaft for rotation therewith sand ,iintermeshing with said rack,, and washer carried-oneach;end-of said shaft to pre- -vent;lateral disengagement oftsaid gears and :rac

4.;In oifice :equipment having spaced apart :parallel sideara back-connecting said vsides, a -shelfmounted in horizontal-relation extending :between said; sides and-back, said sides, back and ;-shelf defining-a tray cabinet, and having arfiexitable. curtain:;mQunted in: uideways for movement ;.-.along .the upper; and front margins of, said sides :for closing .gsaid cabine t, the combination of :mechanism for equalizingthe movement of the :ovno itemar insofsaid curtain to andfrom its :respect-ive open and-closed positions comprising inwardly disposed horizontal-racks carried by the gcurtain guidewaysonthe opposite. sidesin said '-;tr,ay,-cabinet, atransversely disposed shaftar- ,rrangedto span said cabinet, means including b arings, dependently mounting .said shaft for rr tation' carried :by said :curtainintermediate its ;:de.ng t.h, ;;a 1 pair 501 sears, tone :said Lsear -:being amounted on each 1 end. of said shaft. for. rotation .stherewith, andintermeshing with said racks; and washers carried on each. end of .said. shattflto :prevent lateral disengagement of saidgears-and .rack.

-5. In oflice equipment, the combination .ofaa slower section including a. cabinet having spaced apart parallel sides, a back joining said sides, ashelf .mounted inhorizontal relation extending between said sides andback, a supplementalback member-mounted. on the rear margin-ofsaid shelf in; spac.ed relation to said back and. extending between: said sides, upright partitions. mounted rality,.of tray compartmentsand a flexible. curtain: having. side. margins mounted in. guideways @carried on the .top..and side marginsoi said sides and-extending. betweensaid back. and said, supplemental back member for. .movementlbetween :an. open positioninback of. said cabinet andia closed positionextending over .the top and front portion, of saidlower section with the front. edge engaging the frontedge of. said shelf,.an.11pDer section. of relativelyless .depth carried by said lower section, including a second cabinet havin spaced apart .parallel.sides,. a back joining said ,sides, thezsaid side and. back being. in vertical valignment .withv the sides and back. of the lower section, .a. second: shelf mounted in. horizontal relation between said sides, upright-partitions mounted on saidsecond shelf .inparallel relation to forma plurality of traycompartments, ahorirzontal cap extending between said sides and back above said.compartments,..and arsecond flexible curtain. having side margins :mounted in guideways carried belowrsaid. secondshelf .and adjacent a portion of the-guidewaysfor thetafore- -mentioned lower. curtain and on the. frontmargin .of l the upper, section for movement between-an open position wherein ..-the. said. second curtain lies in a. -horizon-tal,rplane.:below. said upper. section and -aclosed position extending :over the rfront-portions of said upper section with .the

front edge engaging-the front edge ofsaidcap, pick-up means comprising an upright finger carried by said first-mentioned flexible curtain adjacent' an end thereof, engaging: means carried by said second'flexible' curtain arranged and adapted to lie in the path of said. finger during said closing movement to engagesaid finger, said -1S6COIld. curtainbeing-responsive to the engagement'ofrsaid last -mentioned means with -said "finger for movement through its guideways:=be-

tween its respective open:and closedpositions coincident with the movement of said 'first'curtain from an open to a closed position, :and spring urged latch means carried by said lower curtain adapted to positively engage'said'pickeup means and engaging means during said closing movement, and mechanism for equalizing the -movement of the oppostie'side margins of the said lower curtain during its movement to and 9 said shaft to prevent lateral disengagement of said gears and rack.

6. In oflice equipment comprising a main cabinet having spaced sides with open top and front portions, and an auxiliary cabinet, having sides above the sides of the first-mentioned cabinet and open at the front, mounted on top of the rear portion of the first-mentioned cabinet, the combination of a main flexible curtain extending between and mounted for movement on the top and front margins of said spaced sides of said main cabinet between open and closed positions to open and close said front and top portions thereof, a second flexible curtain extending between and mounted for movement on the front and lower margins of said auxiliary cabinet between open and closed positions, guideways for the sides of said main flexible curtain arranged along the front, top, and back of the sides of said main cabinet, guideways for the sides of said auxiliary flexible curtain arranged along the front and bottom of the sides of said auxiliary cabinet, said curtains being movable in their respectiveguideways and remaining in all operative positions within their respective cabinets, and means carried by one of said curtains removably engaging with means carried by the other of said curtains to positively move said last mentioned curtain to closed position during closing movement of the other of said curtains.

7. In ofiice equipment, the combination of a lower section including a cabinet having spaced apart parallel sides, a, back joining said sides, a shelf mounted in horizontal relation extending between said sides and back, a supplemental back member mounted on the rear margin of said shelf in spaced relation to said back and extending between said sides, upright partitions mounted on said shelf in parallel relation to form a plurality of compartments and a main flexible curtain having side margins mounted in guideways carried on the top and side margins of said sides and extending between said back and said supplemental back member for movement between an open position in back of said cabinet and a closed position extending over the top and front portion of said lower section with the front edge engaging the front edge of said shelf, an upper section of relatively less depth carried by said lower section, said upper section including a second cabinet having spaced apart parallel sides, a back joining said sides, the said sides and back being in vertical alignment with the sides and back of the lower section, a second shelf mounted in horizontal relation between said sides, upright partitions mounted on said second shelf in parallel relation to form a plurality of compartments, a horizontal cap extending between said sides and back above said compartments. and an auxiliari flexible curtain having side margins mounted in guideways carried in said upper section below said second shelf and adjacent a portion of the guideways for said main flexible curtain and on the front margin of said upper section for movement between an open position wherein said auxiliary curtain lies in a horizontal plane in the lower portion of said upper section and a closed position extending over the front portions of said upper section with the front edge engaging the front edge of said cap, pick-up means comprising a finger carried by said main flexible curtain adjacent the rear end thereof and extending outwardly from its face, and means carried by said auxiliary flexible curtain adapted to lie in the path of and engage said finger during closing movement of said main curtain, said auxiliary curtain being responsive to the engagement of said last-mentioned means with said finger for movement through its guideways between its respective open and closed positions and vice versa coincident with the movement of said main cur- I tain from open to closed and closed to open positions, respectively, and said pick-up means being disengaged from said last-mentioned means when said main flexible curtain is in fully open position.

CARL F. W-OLTERS. GEORGE E. WATKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 514,108 Wilmot Feb. 6, 1894 1,764,612 Dickinson June 17, 1930 2,214,291 Wyckoff Sept. 10, 1940 

